View allAll Photos Tagged pigmentation
这款用过后不但可以全身变白 还可以让皮肤膜起来很光滑很舒服，使用方便，而且经济实惠， 超人气好评如潮 一瓶可全面改善全脸全身美白。
[MILKY DRESS] WHITE VIRGIN 50g - FACE & BODY Whitening Gel
To the face as well as the elbows, knees, nipples, and bikini line, flawless complexion!
moist gel without sticky!
Skin Type: All Skin Type
Size: 50g
This is highly recommended her.
Skin pigmentation / Dark skin pigmentation / Darkened underarms due to frequent hair removal / Dark elbow / dark knees / Dark nipples
Main ingredients
Arbutin, adenosine, licorice extract, aloe vera leaf juice, chamomile extract, Portulaca Oleracea extract, mugwort extract, morus bark extract
How to Use
After basic skincare Apply an appropriate amount to the desired area.
www.drdarm.com "Dr. Jerry Darm" "Aesthetic Medicine Portland OR" "BBB rated A+" Laserlift Botox Dysport Juvederm Restylane "Acne treatments" ANSR "Rosacea treatments" "facial veins treatments" "mole removal" "skin tags removal" "skin pigmentation treatments" "skin lesion treatments" "laser tattoo removal" "dark spots treatments" "sun damage treatments" "laser hair removal" revlite "laser skin" "laser skin treatments" lipolift velashape mesoderm "exilis therapy" "laser lipolysis" "laser liposuction" "liposuction doctor portland" "oregon liposuction doctor" "vein therapy" sclerotherapy "spider veins treatments" "medical weight management" "medical weight loss" "dr. darm weight loss programs" "facial plastic surgeries" "plastic surgeon portland" "face lifts" "nose lifts" "brow lifts" "ear surgery" "double neck surgery" microdermabrasion n-lite, "Dr. Jerry Darm" "Jerry Darm MD"
Did You Know?
Males sing complex songs on wintering grounds in Hawaii, that can last up to 20 minutes and be heard 20 miles (30 km) away!
In the Pacific, humpbacks migrate seasonally from Alaska to Hawaii--they can complete the 3,000-mile (4,830 km) trip in as few as 36 days!
Species Description:
Weight:25-40 tons (50,000-80,000 pounds; 22,000-36,000 kg);
newborns weigh about 1 ton (2,000 pounds; 900 kg)
Length:Up to 60 feet (18 m), with females larger than males;
newborns are about 15 feet (4.5 m) long
Appearance: Primarily dark grey, with some areas of white
Lifespan:About 50 years
Diet:Tiny crustaceans (mostly krill), plankton, and small fish; they can consume up to 3,000 pounds (1360 kg) of food per day
Behavior:Breaching (jumping out of the water), or slapping the surface
Humpback whales are well known for their long pectoral fins, which can be up to 15 feet (4.6 m) in length. Their scientific name, Megaptera novaeangliae, means "big-winged New Englander" as the New England population was the one best known to Europeans. These long fins give them increased maneuverability; they can be used to slow down or even go backwards.
Similar to all baleen whales, adult females are larger than adult males, reaching lengths of up to 60 feet (18 m). Their body coloration is primarily dark grey, but individuals have a variable amount of white on their pectoral fins and belly. This variation is so distinctive that the pigmentation pattern on the undersides of their "flukes" is used to identify individual whales, similar to a human fingerprint.
Humpback whales are the favorite of whale watchers, as they frequently perform aerial displays, such as breaching (jumping out of the water), or slapping the surface with their pectoral fins, tails, or heads.
In the summer, humpbacks are found in high latitude feeding grounds, such as the Gulf of Maine in the Atlantic and Gulf of Alaska in the Pacific. In the winter, they migrate to calving grounds in subtropical or tropical waters, such as the Dominican Republic in the Atlantic and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific. The Arabian Sea humpback does not migrate, remaining in tropical waters all year.
Humpback whales travel great distances during their seasonal migration, the farthest migration of any mammal. The longest recorded migration was 5,160 miles (8,300 km); seven animals, including a calf, completed this trek from Costa Rica to Antarctica. One of the more closely studied routes is between Alaska and Hawaii, where humpbacks have been observed making the 3,000-mile (4,830 km) trip in as few as 36 days.
During the summer months, humpbacks spend the majority of their time feeding and building up fat stores (blubber) that they will live off of during the winter. Humpbacks filter feed on tiny crustaceans (mostly krill), plankton, and small fish and can consume up to 3,000 pounds (1,360 kg) of food per day. Several hunting methods involve using air bubbles to herd, corral, or disorient fish. One highly complex variant, called "bubble netting" is unique to humpbacks. This technique is often performed in groups with defined roles for distracting, scaring, and herding before whales lunge at prey corralled near the surface.
In their wintering grounds, humpback whales congregate and engage in mating activities. Humpbacks are generally polygynous "having multiple female mates" with males exhibiting competitive behavior on wintering grounds. Aggressive and antagonistic behaviors include chasing, vocal and bubble displays, horizontal tail thrashing, and rear body thrashing. Males within these groups also make physical contact, striking or surfacing on top of one another. These bouts can cause injuries ranging from bloody scrapes to, in one recorded instance, death. Also on wintering grounds, males sing complex songs that can last up to 20 minutes and be heard 20 miles (30 km) away. A male may sing for hours, repeating the song several times. All males in a population sing the same song, but that song continually evolves over time. Humpback whale singing has been studied for decades, but scientists still understand very little about its function.
Gestation lasts for about 11 months. Newborns are 13-16 feet (4-5 m) long and grow quickly from the highly nutritious milk of their mothers. Weaning occurs between 6-10 months after birth. Mothers are protective and affectionate towards their calves, swimming close and frequently touching them with their flippers. Males do not provide parental support for calves. Breeding usually occurs once every two years, but sometimes occurs twice in a three-year span.
Habitat
During migration, humpbacks stay near the surface of the ocean.
While feeding and calving, humpbacks prefer shallow waters. During calving, humpbacks are usually found in the warmest waters available at that latitude. Calving grounds are commonly near offshore reef systems, islands, or continental shores.
Humpback feeding grounds are in cold, productive coastal waters.
Distribution
Humpback whales live in all major oceans from the equator to sub-polar latitudes.
In the North Pacific, there are at least three separate populations:
California/Oregon/Washington stock that winters in coastal Central America and Mexico and migrates to areas ranging from the coast of California to southern British Columbia in summer/fall;
Central North Pacific stock that winters in the Hawaiian Islands and migrates to northern British Columbia/ Southeast Alaska and Prince William Sound west to Kodiak; and Western North Pacific stock that winters near Japan and probably migrates to waters west of the Kodiak Archipelago (the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands) in summer/fall. There is some mixing between these populations, though they are still considered distinct stocks.
Threats
Humpback whales face a series of threats including:
entanglement in fishing gear
Whale watch harassment
Habitat impacts
Harvest
Humpbacks can become entangled in fishing gear, either swimming off with the gear or becoming anchored. We have observed incidental "take" of humpback whales in the California/ Oregon swordfish and thresher shark drift gillnet fishery. Potential entanglement from gear from several fisheries can occur on their long migration from Hawaii to Alaska. Humpbacks in Hawaii have been observed entangled in long line gear, crab pots, and other non-fishery-related lines.
Inadvertent ship strikes can injure or kill humpbacks. Whale watching vessels may stress or even strike whales. The central North Pacific stock is the focus of a whale-watching industry on their wintering grounds in the Hawaiian Islands. The feeding aggregation in southeast Alaska is also the focus of a developing whale-watching industry that may impact whales in localized areas.
Shipping channels, fisheries, and aquaculture may occupy or destroy humpback whale aggregation areas. Recreational use of marine areas, including resort development and increased boat traffic, may displace whales that would normally use that area. In Hawaii, acoustic impacts from vessel operation, oceanographic research using active sonar, and military operations are also of increasing concern.
Source: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/whales/humpback-whal...
Antivitiligo oil is our patent product for vitiligo skin disorder treatment, lost pigment, skin white patches,herbal home remedy for Re-pigmentation of Vitiligo. Our herbal medicines are best for vitiligo cure www.antivitiligooil.com/vitiligo.htm
Pictures at an exhibition - XXXIII CDO CONVENTION - Tabiano 2015
(*** Chromatism = abnormal pigmentation)
Overview of rooms in the museum:
The museum, as it is now, is completely renewed. Old information about rooms and their numbers are still not updated, not even in Wikipedia. They mention twenty rooms, and their names, but there are 27 rooms, XXVII
Maybe wiki will update their page soon, as it is in October 2015, it is not updated.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraklion_Archaeological_Museum
~
This serial of photos offers an impression of details of the collection with Minoan Art, belonging to the Palace of Knossos. the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion has been completely renewed. Lots of amazing information can be read next to art objects.
It is not allowed to use flash when making photos. This, and the many visitors made it hardly possible to make really sharp photos in some seconds.
My camera is a rather cheap one and creates curved lines.
Some photos are not sharp, but I kept them anyway.
Altogether it has been a deeply impressing visit, moving, deeply moving because of the mystical, spiritual, mental and emotional depth of the Art.
The Minoans were utterly creative.
Their art is comparable with our modern art. Their use of colors makes the art characteristic: pastel colors (modest in pigmentation), terra colors, with blue, green and ochre.
Often I edited the photos in several ways. Or cropped them, to attract the attention for details.
Enjoy the collection of photos. If you want to read more about the Minoans:
This is an example of a white-breasted nuthatch with a rare genetic condition called leucism. Leucism is the partial loss of all types of pigmentation, including carotenoids - However, unlike albinism, it does not effect the eye.
Resident Evil 5 (PS3, XBOX360, PC)
Jill Valentine (Battle Suit Version)
Hot Toys VGM13 Jill Valentine
After being taken by Wesker, she is stripped of her uniform and fitted with a skin tight blue and black battle suit. Because of the experiments performed on Jill's body a number of changes occurred. Her time in cryo stasis caused a pigmentation abnormality to her hair and skin transforming Jill from a brunette into a pale blonde.
Laser skin resurfacing or abrasion uses a carbon dioxide (CO2) or Erbium laser to remove areas of damaged or wrinkled skin, layer by layer. The procedure is most commonly used to minimize the appearance of wrinkle like fine lines, especially around the mouth or eyes - crow's feet wrinkles - and to remove blotchy skin pigmentation from sun damage. Laser resurfacing may be performed on the whole face or in specific regions for a younger looking you.
Chester Zoo's Spirit of the Jaguar exhibit is home to five magnificent Jaguars. Their rainforest and savannah-themed enclosures replicate the range of habitats occupied by Jaguars in the wild.
Providing the animals with such stimulating environments promotes natural behaviours like climbing, stalking and swimming - which they especially enjoy!
Jaguars’ coats are usually golden with an intricate pattern of black spots, ringed by dark rosettes. ‘Melanistic’ Jaguar, Pele, has an increased amount of dark pigmentation, making his fur black. If you look closely, you can still the typical rosette markings on Pele’s coat.
To further encourage their Jaguars to behave naturally, keepers provide a variety of environmental enrichment including scent trails, scatter feeds, climbing poles, and hiding food (such as chicken, rabbit, beef or fish) around their enclosures. Wild Jaguars are opportunistic hunters, preying on a wide variety of mammals, reptiles and fish.
Cattle-ranching now dominates much of the Jaguars savannah habitats, where they have adapted to prey on domestic cattle - unfortunately bringing them into direct conflict with farmers.
Chester Zoo’s Jaguar and People Conservation Programme works to address human-Jaguar conflict and we also provide grants each year to support various Jaguar conservation projects.
Species Information
Where they live: Central and South America – from Mexico to Argentina.
Habitat: Lush rainforest, swamplands, scrubland, savannas. They always live within easy access of water.
Size:
Length (including tail): up to 241cm Shoulder height: up to 76cm
Weight: 85– 158kg
Conservation status: IUCN Red List: Near Threatened
Threats: Hunting for their pelts for the fur trade and by farmers in retaliation for attacks on livestock. Habitat loss and deforestation due to agricultural and urban development. Such developments also have an impact on jaguar food sources, reducing the amount of prey available.
Op de vlaggetjesdagen in Drimmelen vond ook een braderie plaats. In een kraam werd slakkenslijm verkocht....
Dit product zou werken tegen rimpels, pigment, puistje, littekens, exceem en psoriasis....
In the Dutch village of Drimmelen was the annual market. One stall was selling snail slime.
This product would work against wrinkles, pigmentation, pimple, scars, eczema and psoriasis....
Slakken slijm is een crème waarvan het hoofdbestanddeel wordt geleverd door slakken: het slakkenslijm. Slakken slijm wordt geproduceerd in Chili, daar wordt met behulp van een speciaal stofje de slijmproductie van de slakken gestimuleerd. Vervolgens worden de slakken op een kunststof plaat gezet. De slakken kruipen hier overheen en de slakkenboer kan het slijm van de plaat afschrapen.
Bron: InfoNu.nl
Snail slime cream is a cream whose main component is delivered by snails: the slag slime. Snail slime is produced in Chile, a special fabric is stimulating the slime production of the snails. Then the snails re placed on a plastic plate. The snails crawl over it and the snail farmer can scrape the slime of the plate.
AWARD FOR INTRIGUE
Author: Ben Whittaker - College of Science, Department of Biosciences. In collaboration with: Carlos Garcia de Leaniz
Funded by: Swansea University & Marine Harvest Scotland
"The behaviour of cleaner fish is described as Machiavellian; a manipulative character trait associated with the Dark Triad of personality.
Although these sinister individuals hide ulterior motives, cleaning behaviour is generally beneficial for client fishes, as disease-carrying parasites are removed from their skin.
Studies conducted at the Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Research (CSAR) aim to identify individuals particularly suited for the task of cleaning away parasites infecting salmon farms, focusing on a species of cleaner called the lumpfish.
Ongoing research aims to unmask the most devious lumpfish, with one method evaluating the eye pigmentation of fish from different behavioural backgrounds.
Though photos are edited for analysis, the underlying contrasts in colour and vivid patterns are quite striking.
Perhaps this image offers a glimpse into a commercially exploitable, but nonetheless malevolent mind."
**********
Teitl: Ffenestr i'r enaid
Awdur: Ben Whittaker - Coleg Gwyddoniaeth, Adran Biowyddorau. Mewn cydweithrediad gyda: Carlos Garcia de Leaniz
Ariennir gan: Prifysgol Abertawe a Marine Harvest Scotland
"Disgrifir ymddygiad pysgod glanhau fel rhywbeth Machiavelliaidd; nodwedd o gymeriad ystrywgar sy'n gysylltiedig â Thriawd Tywyll personoliaeth.
Er bod yr unigolion sinistr hyn yn cuddio cymhellion eraill, mae'r ymddygiad glanhau yn fuddiol ar y cyfan i'r pysgod sy'n eu defnyddio, gan fod parasitiaid sy'n cario clefydau yn cael eu tynnu oddi ar eu croen.
Nod astudiaethau a gynhelir gan y Ganolfan Ymchwil i ffermio dŵr cynaliadwy (CSAR) yw nodi unigolion sy'n arbennig o addas ar gyfer y gwaith o lanhau parasitiaid sy'n heintio'r ffermydd eogiaid, gan ganolbwyntio ar rywogaeth o lanhawyr o'r enw ieir môr.
Mae ymchwil ar y gweill i geisio darganfod yr iâr fôr fwyaf dichellgar, gydag un dull yn gwerthuso lliwiau llygaid pysgod o wahanol gefndiroedd ymddygiadol.
Er y caiff y lluniau eu golygu er mwyn eu dadansoddi, mae'r gwrthgyferbyniad sylfaenol o ran lliw a phatrwm llachar yn eithaf trawiadol.
Efallai y bydd y ddelwedd hon yn rhoi cipolwg i mewn i feddwl y gellir ei ddefnyddio'n fasnachol, ond er hynny'n sy'n faleisus."
Please View On Black and/or View On White
A very old breed, there descriptions of Silkies going back several hundred years. Marco Polo described similar birds in the C13th and they were described as having 'fur like cats' in 1645. It is thought that they originated in Asia, possibly China or even Japan. The first birds to arrive in the UK came from India in 1850 when their unusual looks won love and admiration which has continued to this day.
They are unique. Their fluffy appearance is due to their feathers not having the small barbs that keep other feathers together and consequently they are soft and silky to handle. Silkies are no fliers and can be kept within a low fence. They are renowned for their broodiness and their calm, friendly and trusting nature. Their skin is dark purple, sometimes appearing black, this pigmentation being carried into the meat & bones and the Chinese regard them as a delicacy with medicinal properties.
Silkies are a large breed but there is a lot of variety in size & weight. The body is broad and round with a short back and saddle rising to the tail whick is plentiful, fluffy and raggy looking in the cock. The heads are quite different in the male & female. The cock has a pronounced purple comb and a crest of longer feathers swept back towards the neck hackles. The hen has a short, neat pom-pom like a powder puff. On both sexes, the wattles & face are purple with black eyes and bright blue ear lobes. Legs are short, grey blue, lightly feathered with a fifth toe.
The hens do make wonderful broodies and are used widely as natural incubators by breeders of pheasants, partridges and ducks as well as chickens. Although they might lay up to about 150 pale tinted eggs a year, which tend to be a bit smaller than average, this number can be much lower if they sit a lot. Chicks are difficult to sex with any accuracy before about 15 weeks because of their peculiar feathers.
I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes. . . . Even in the helter-skelter skirmish that is my life, I have seen that the world is to the strong regardless of a little pigmentation more or less. No, I do not weep at the world—I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.
Zora Neale Hurston (1901?-1960)
"How It Feels to Be Colored Me" (1928)
Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
Martin Luther King (1929-1968)
Strength to Love, 1963
My father was a slave and my people died to build this country, and I'm going to stay right here and have a part of it, just like you. And no fascist-minded people like you will drive me from it. Is that clear?
Paul Robeson (1898-1976)
testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee, June 12, 1956
I felt that one had better die fighting against injustice than to die like a dog or rat in a trap. I had already determined to sell my life as dearly as possible if attacked. I felt if I could take one lyncher with me, this would even up the score a little bit.
Ida B. Wells (1862-1931)
Crusade for Justice: The Autobiography of Ida B. Wells (published posthumously, 1970)
The world is a severe schoolmaster, for its frowns are less dangerous than its smiles and flatteries, and it is a difficult task to keep in the path of wisdom.
Phillis Wheatley (1753?-1784)
letter to John Thornton, October 30, 1774 ate & Time: 8/22/2007 7:52:00 AM Remove this comment
Poem: 8003197 - Little Indian Boy
Member: allan james Saywell
Comment: man you are one ugly dude in my country we would take you out the back and put you out of your misery, are you a red indian
AJS
God has yet to make a hell
With Australian burning fires
To place the racist poet
Allen James Braywell
Along with his other satanic partner
Arsenic Arsewell
Skin heads, neo Nazis
Yobos..before he finally
Wishes them a farewell
Its hate they were born with
Its just pure pristine hate they sell
Brow beat colored poets boot kick
Bombay Indian Monkey
Abuse shouts and yell
Disfigure a mans right to human dignity
Cause unnecessary pell-mell
On your ass they tattoo with your blood
From AJS Warm Greetings love
That with more Hate misspell
Not being a better articulate poet
Words that I cant say well
Little mice multicolored fear
An ugly hateful cat who will bell?
Those silent bystanders
Who say “Did I not Tell”
Perforated silence
Poetic pause of
A condescending navel
Crime you must know
Does never ever pay well
Even with a homophobic
Partner called Arsewell
I won.. Done Dry Cell
Testicular fortitude
Testosterone less
Family jewels
An apple an arrow
And a missing William Tell
AJS IDS Rest in Peace
Togetherness is so swell
In a newly manicured Hell
The New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri), - also known as Hooker's sea lion and rāpoka or whakahao in Māori -, is one of the rarest seal species in the world. The species is only found in New Zealand, mainly on the subantarctic Auckland and Campbell islands and to some extent around the coast of South Island and Stewart Island. The NZ sea lion population numbers around 10,000. NZ sea lions are highly threatened (nationally critical, the highest threat classification) due to their declining numbers and restricted breeding range. Apart from the Australian sea lion (whose population is estimated to be 10,000 to 15,000), all other sea lion species are in the hundreds of thousands.
HUNTED TO NEAR EXTINCTION
Archaeological evidence suggests that NZ sea lions used to be found along the entire length of the coast from the northern end of the North Island down to Stewart Island. The finding of sea lion remains in excavations and historical records indicate that both Mäori and European settlers hunted sea lions.
Recent DNA information indicates the NZ sea lion is a lineage previously restricted to subantarctic regions. Somewhere between 1300 and 1500 AD, a genetically distinct mainland lineage was wiped out by the first Maori settlers, and the subantarctic lineage has since then gradually filled the ecological niche.
When the Auckland Islands were discovered in 1806, NZ sea lions were killed for their pelts, until there were no longer enough sea lions left to support the trade. It is evident that many NZ sea lions were killed during this time, but it is unknown exactly how many due to poor and often non-existent record keeping. In 1893, sealing for both NZ sea lions and NZ fur seals was prohibited by law in New Zealand.
In 1993, a female sea lion nicknamed “Mum” decided to have her pup on an Otago Peninsula beach. This was the first sea lion born on the mainland in 150 years. NZ sea lions are also starting to breed in the Catlins and on Stewart Island. The extension of the NZ sea lion’s range via re-colonisation of the mainland is essential to the long term survival of the species.
DESCRIPTION
The NZ sea lion has a blunt nose and short whiskers. They have marked sexual dimorphism. Adult males (whakahao) are 2.4 to 3.5m long and weigh 320 to 450 kg and adult females (rāpoko) are 1.6 to 2.0m long and weigh 100 to 165 kg. At birth, pups are 0.7 to 1.0m long and weigh 7 to 8 kg; the natal pelage of both sexes is a thick coat of chocolate brown hair that becomes dark gray with cream markings on the top of the head, nose, tail, and at the base of the flippers. Adult males are blackish-brown with a well-developed black mane of coarse hair reaching the shoulders. Adult females' coats are lighter in colour, varying from buff to creamy grey with darker pigmentation around the muzzle and the flippers. Juvenile males can resemble adult females in colour and size.
Females mature as early as 3 years old, giving birth for the first time at about 4 years old. When males become mature is unknown, but they can’t sire their first pup until they are strong enough to hold their own territory, at about 8 or 9 years old. Females form into harems of up to 25 and are attended by a single dominant bull. Other males remain around the periphery and occasionally challenge the dominant bull. These challenges result in aggressive displays and fighting as the dominant bull defends his harem.
DIET & PREDATION
NZ sea lions are known to predate on a wide range of prey species including fish (e.g. hoki and red cod), cephalopods (e.g. arrow squid and yellow octopus), crustaceans, seabirds (including penguins) and other marine mammals. Studies indicate a strong location effect on diet, with almost no overlap in prey species comparing sea lions at the north and south extents of the species' breeding range. The sea lions are in turn predated on by great white sharks.
Female NZ sea lions are foraging record holders. Females may travel up to 175 km from the coast to feed. Dives may be up to 700 m in depth, though most are less than 200 m and last 4 or 5 minutes. Diving is almost continuous when at sea. Females dive deeper, longer, and cover a greater area and distance in a single foraging trip than any other fur seal or sea lion species.
STATUS
NZ sea lions are considered the most threatened sea lion in the world. The species' status is largely driven by the main breeding population at the Auckland Islands, which declined by ~50% between 2000 and 2015. Population estimates for the whole species declined from ~15,000 in the mid-1990s to 9,000 in 2008 (based on the number of pups born). The Department of Conservation (DOC) estimated that Auckland Islands' sea lions, nearly 80% of the total, could be functionally extinct by 2035. In 2015, the IUCN changed the classification of this species to "Endangered", based on low overall population size, the small number of breeding populations and the projected trend of the Auckland Islands breeding population.
THREATS
-Commercial fishery bycatch: In the 1990s, as the volume of squid fishing around the Auckland Islands increased, numbers of sea lions were captured as bycatch and drowned in the squid trawl nets. The government uses a modelling system to set a fishing-related mortality limit (FRML) each year. If the limit is predicted to be exceeded, the Minister of Primary Industries may close the fishery.
-Food limitation: Lacking food availability is a major cause of population change. Indicators of food limitation include poor maternal condition, delayed maturation, years with very low pupping rate, low survival of pups born and long-term shifts in diet composition. Starvation was provisionally identified as cause of mortality for 62% of pups necropsied at Campbell Island in 2015, when 58% of all pups born were estimated to have died in the first month of life.
-Disease: A decline trend for some years followed the outbreak of an introduced bacterial disease caused by a Campylobacter species in 1998 which killed an estimated 53% of newborn pups and 20% of adult females. Since 2002, another probably introduced bacterial disease caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae has caused significant mortality in the sea lion pups.
Source: Wikipedia
I was taken by a friend to visit the small colony of hyper-chromatic CSOs at the weekend. But in actual fact, most of the other spikes were almost as mad, with bold wonderful dots and swirls on the lips.
Here is a selection:
-------------------------------------------------
So, after the best part of five weeks doing little else than take photographs, I decided to spend Saturday painting the shed.
No I didn't, I went out orchiding.
Or did once we went to Tesco for the remainder of the shopping.
Another glorious warm day, that would be very good for photography,I thought.
Home for coffee and fruit for breakfast, before I packed my camera and headed to the Medway towns to meet up with two other people from my orchid group to hunt down some super rare orchids.
But then, they always are.
I drove up the A2/M2 to Chatham, turned off, and in a quiet residential area, I found Ian parked, so I pulled up behind him. Graham soon arrived too, and so we got out and set out down a narrow alleyway between the houses, into woodland behind.
Orchids are variable. Even the most common ones can produce spikes that are as rare as the rarest orchid species. And as all species can produce spikes with little or no pigmentation, they can also produce spikes with hyper-pigmentation.
Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. rhodochila, or a hyper-coloured Common Spotted Orchid. And in a colony where most spikes had strongly marked lips, there were four that really stood out, as the rings and dots had been covered by pigmantation, and the lips were a solid block of colour. I mean, I had seen shots of these, but to see them in person was something else.
We all took lots of shots, and then Graham said, I know of a colony of Lesser Butterfly orchids, would you like to see them?
We would.
The Lesser Butterfly at Barham have died out, and the ones at Stockbury seem to have had their flowers deliberately picked off this year, so another colony would be great to know about.
We drove in convoy for half an hour, met up in a pub car park, then drove in Graham's car to the end of a quiet, little used lane. A six-foot-sixer, Tony! And we set out on foot, a mile up the lane to a gate, where climbed over.
A car went by.
"What are you doing?"
We explained about the LBO and how rare they were and we knew they were in the wood. The gamekeeper knew about them too, and was happy to let us go, and if someone stopped us again, we could mention his name to say we had his blessing. We also said we would tell no one about the site.
We climbed over a fence into the wood, and shortly afterwards we saw the first of about twenty spikes, one measuring in at 68cm tall, and one that had a clear green colour to it.
We took shots of them all, though the humidity was getting to me, fogging the viewfinder and by glasses. Sometimes at the same time.
We walked back to the car, then droove back to the pub, so that we could go our separate ways. My plan was to head back to Dover, to call in at the council offices to see if the unusually marked Bee Orchid was showing.
It was, and had only just opened as the pollina had only just dropped and had not been visited by an insect yet.
I got shots, one of which came out rather well, even if i say so myself.
Then back home for a drink, then a bacon butty and a brew.
Phew, it was a scorcher.
I reviewed shots through the afternoon before we had Caprese again with the leftover bread from the day before.
Life was good.
We listened to Craig in the evening before heading up to bed at half eight.
Phew.
-----------------------------------------------
The Common Spotted-orchid is one of the few species that are still thriving in Britain despite the ongoing environmental damage and habitat desctruction that has caused so many other orchids to decline. Its secret is an adaptability that enables it to colonise new areas. Few of us can have failed to spot the vast numbers of Dactylorhiza fuchsii on urban roadside verges and roundabouts - this orchid is living among us. It lives up to its common name on both counts: this orchid is indeed common, and its leaves are profusely marked with dark spots and blotches. Although best known from alkaline habitats such as fens, dune slacks, old quarries and lime pits, the Common Spotted-orchid is also tolerant of mildly acidic substrates and so can sometimes be found on heathland among heather. In Britain and Ireland this orchid flowers from mid May to the end of July. On mainland Europe the range of Common Spotted-orchid extends from Scandinavia in the north through central Europe and southwards to the Mediterranean.
Taxonomy & Hybrids
Pollination is highly successful, and a number of insects - particularly beetles - are attracted to the flowers' nectar.
The specific name 'fuchsii' refers to the German botanist Leonard Fuchs.
There is one subspecies found in Britain: Dactylorhiza fuchsii subsp. hebridensis which is found in Scotland, the Outer Hebrides and western Ireland.
There are a number of varieties and hybrids. Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. albiflora has unmarked white flowers and is fairly widespread. Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. alpina has small, darker flowers and is found in Scotland and parts of northern England; it has also been reported from Wales. Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. cornubiensis is a smaller plant with a relatively large infloresence and larger flowers; it is found in Cornwall. Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. albiflora has unmarked white flowers and unspotted leaves; it is widespread but uncommon. Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. okellyii is somewhat contentious: it resembles Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. albiflora but the leaves can be either spotted or unspotted; this variety is thought to be confined to western Ireland, the Isle of Man and parts of Scotland. Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. rhodochila is a widespread but rare hyperchromatic variant with excessive pigmentation; the lips of its flowers are reddish purple with a paler border, and the leaves can have either heavily marked or completely purple leaves.
There are also several hybrids. Dactylorhiza x transiens is the hybrid with Heath Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza maculata. Dactylorhiza x kernerorum is the hybrid with Early Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata. Dactylorhiza x mixtum is a rare hybrid with the Frog Orchid Dactylorhiza viridis. Dactylorhiza x venusta is the hybrid with Northern Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza purpurella. Dactylorhiza x grandis is the hybrid with Southern Marsh-orchid and is widespread in southern Britain. Dactylorhiza x silvae-gabretae is the hybrid with Narrow-leaved Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides. Dactylorhiza x braunii is the hybrid with Irish Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza occidentalis and is recorded from County Clare.
There is also an intergeneric hybrid. X Dactylodenia st-quintinii is the hybrid with Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea and possibly with Britain's other two Fragrant Orchids.
www.hardyorchidsociety.org.uk/hos%201012/orchidphotos/dac...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_(horse)#The_.22flea-bitten.22_...
A horse that has completely changed its base coat will either be pure white or "flea-bitten" gray. Flea-bitten gray is a color consisting of a white hair coat with small speckles or "freckles" of red-colored hair throughout. Most horses who become flea-bitten grays still go through a brief period when they are pure white.
The flea-bitten pattern, like freckles on a human, can also vary: Some horses may appear almost pure white, with only a few speckles observed on close examination. Others may have so many speckles that they are occasionally mistaken for a roan or even a type of sabino. One unique form of flea-bitten gray is the "bloody shouldered" horse. This is an animal that is so heavily flea-bitten on certain parts of the body, usually the shoulder area, that it almost appears as if blood had been spilled on the horse, hence the name. In the traditions of the desert Bedouin people who bred the Arabian horse, the "bloody shoulder" was a prized trait in a war mare and much desired. In some cases, a "bloody shoulder" might in theory also be caused the sabino or rabicano gene acting in addition to a gray coat.
The flea-bitten pattern comes about because of somatic loss of the duplication that causes Greying with age, enabling normal pigmentation to be reestablished. Generally only occurs in heterozygous Greys.
The white deer in my area of Dorset are all leucistic & not albinos.
Leucism is a condition in animals characterized by reduced pigmentation. Unlike albinism, it is caused by a reduction in all types of skin pigment, not just melanin.
Leucism (occasionally spelled leukism) is a general term for the phenotype resulting from defects in pigment cell differentiation and/or migration from the neural crest
to skin, hair, or feathers during development. This results in either the entire surface (if all pigment cells fail to develop) or patches of body surface (if only a subset are defective)
having a lack of cells capable of making pigment. [Wikipedia]
This image shows the diversity of eggshell pigmentation using eggs from a collection of 81 British passerine species. The eggshells of many avian species are colourfully decorated but the functional significance of these colourations remains poorly understood. Hypotheses include camouflage, temperature control, and egg recognition (in response to brood parasitism). There are two main types of pigments responsible for the colouring and patterning on passerine eggshells. These are protoporphyrin IX, responsible for brownish hues, and biliverdin, responsible for blue and green hues (Kennedy and Vevers 1973; 1976).
In this study I look at how eggshell pigment and colour relate to specific life-history and breeding ecology traits, and how these co-vary with phylogenetic affiliations among species. The individual photos were used to ascertain information about background colour, foreground colour and percentage spotting present on eggs. Eggshells were made available through a destructive loan from the Natural History Museum, Tring, UK.
Kaat Brulez
PhD
College of Life and Environmental Sciences
This lighting was great; it was just the sun peeking through a screened window. Eye pigmentation, pores, even my lip hair, hah.
AWIB-ISAW: Hibis, Temple Decorations (I)
A relief on the ceiling of the entrance structure of the Hibis Temple dedicated to the Theban triad (Amun, Mut & Khonsu) in the Kharga Oasis, depicting vultures, which still retain some of their original pigment. by NYU Excavations at Amheida Staff (2004)
copyright: 2004 NYU Excavations at Amheida (used with permission)
photographed place: Hebet (Hibis) [http://pleiades.stoa.org/places/776181/]
authority: Image published on the authority of the Amheida Project Director, Roger Bagnall
Published by the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World as part of the Ancient World Image Bank (AWIB). Further information: [http://www.nyu.edu/isaw/awib.htm].
Bleached Purple Rice Coral (Montipora dilatata) at Lisianski Island in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The lavender-colored coral in the left foreground retained its normal healthy pigmentation. All of the pale coral surrounding it is bleached due to thermal stress. Photo by: NOAA and Courtney Couch/Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, 2014
For more information, visit www.papahanaumokuakea.gov/
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/hawaiireef
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Papahanaumokuakea
Contact us by email: hawaiireef@noaa.gov
A rare white ellipsen waterbuck calf stood out among his herd as he roamed his exhibit with his mother early this morning at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The Safari Park has successfully bred over 20,000 rare and endangered mammals for decades (278 of those were ellipsen waterbuck), but this is its first-ever animal born with leucism, a condition that causes an animal to have reduced pigmentation. The three-week-old calf, named Luke, was born on Sept. 6 in the Safari Park's South Africa exhibit.
Ellipsen or common waterbuck are recognizable by the bull's eye or ellipse-shaped ring on their rump. In Luke's case, the bull's eye is a brown ring on a white body, rather than a white ring on a brown body. In the wild, an animal with leucism is an easy target for prey as it stands out, unable to camouflage itself. Since Luke was born at the Safari Park, he has a good chance of survival as animal care staff can keep close watch on him.
Typical of waterbuck, Luke's mother kept him from harm by tucking him in the rocks in their habitat for his first two weeks while she rejoined the herd, returning to nurse the calf several times a day. Once the calf was strong enough, she allowed him to venture out with her to meet his herd and the 10 other animal species sharing his habitat, including rhinos, wildebeests and eland.
Keepers report the other animals have been curious about the calf, but his mother, father and other members of the waterbuck herd keep a close watch on the youngster.
Ellipsen waterbuck are found from central Kenya to northern Botswana and eastern South Africa. Waterbuck inhabit savannas and woodland areas within reach of permanent water. They are not aquatic but can hide in water from predators, when necessary.
Visitors to the Safari Park may see Luke and his mother on an Africa Tram tour, included with Park admission. www.sdzsafaripark.org
Some of the black pigmentation is missing giving a lighter colored critter.
Ambystoma macrodactylum
Seen at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve, Hillsboro, Oregon.
I posted a picture of the same critter at Jackson Bottom's Flickr site.
Vigini Tightening & Whitening Gel is an Anti ageing formula helps intimate regain natural tone and elasticity. Natural actives increase estrogen level and form new tissues. Reduce pigmentation, lighten the color of Intimate area & bikini lines. Helps eliminate foul smell, prevents from infection and keeps Intimate area clean & healthy. Locks natural wetness of intimate area and improves elasticity. Reduces dryness, provides instant tightness you feel desirable sensuous & confident. Natural Active Intimate Whitening Gel : Witch Hazel, Curcuma Comosa, Oak Gall extract, Amla Extract,Catechu Extract, Collagen, Aloe Vera Extract and V-tightening Actives.
Black squirrels are a melanistic subgroup of squirrels with black coloration on their fur. The phenomenon occurs with several species of squirrels, although it is most frequent with the eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and the fox squirrel (Sciurus niger). Black morphs of the eastern gray and fox squirrels are the result of a variant pigment gene. Several theories have surfaced as to why the black morph occurs, with some suggesting that the black morph is a selective advantage for squirrels inhabiting the northern ranges of the species, with the black fur providing a thermal advantage over its non-melanistic counterpart.
Black squirrels share the same natural range as their non-melanistic counterparts. Black morphs of eastern gray squirrels occur most frequently in the northern portion of its range around the Great Lakes Basin. Conversely, black morphs of fox squirrels typically occur most frequently in the southeastern portions of the species' natural range, the southeastern United States. Although they are found more frequently in those regions, the coloration remains uncommon in most areas that these species inhabit. However, black morphs of eastern gray squirrels form the majority of the species' population in the Canadian province of Ontario, and the U.S. state of Michigan. In addition to their natural range, black morphs of eastern gray squirrels were also introduced into other areas of Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Several municipalities and post-secondary schools in the United States have adopted a black squirrel for branding purposes, using it as a symbol and/or mascot. Some municipalities that have adopted the black squirrels as a symbol for their community have also passed ordinances that discourage attempts to threaten them.
Description
The black coloration in both eastern gray squirrels and fox squirrels is believed to stem from a variant pigment gene.[1] A study published by FEBS Letters in 2014 demonstrated how a pigment gene missing a piece of DNA, can be a determinant of an eastern gray squirrel's coat. The emergence of black fur in the eastern gray squirrel is believed to be the result of the 24 bp deletion from their melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene; with the specific allele referred to as MC1R∆24 A study published by BMC Evolutionary Biology pointed to evidence that the variant pigment gene originated from the black fox squirrel, and was later passed on to eastern gray squirrels as a result of interspecies mating; given that the variant gene in both species were identical. Black coat color is caused by a 24 base pair deletion in MC1R in the western population of fox squirrels and by a point mutation in the agouti-signaling protein gene in the southeastern population.
Black morphs may also occur with Columbian ground squirrels, Eurasian red squirrels, Richardson's ground squirrels, and western gray squirrels, although it is far more unusual for the latter to display color polymorphism. No association between melanism and variations in their MC1R was found in Eurasian red squirrels; with researchers suggesting that the different color variations (including black morphs) in Eurasian red squirrels, and fox squirrels being a polygenic result. Melanism with Richardson's ground squirrels is due to recessive genes.
Benefits of black fur
With regard to black squirrels and melanism, two major theories dominate the literature, that its frequency is the result of crypsis, and/or the result of thermoregulation.
Concealment
It has been theorized that non-melanistic gray squirrels have a concealment advantage in forests dominated by deciduous trees, while black squirrels hold a concealment advantage in forested areas in the northern portions of its range, where conifer trees are more prevalent. The theory is based on the idea that forests where coniferous trees are predominant block more sunlight from reaching the forest below, providing a dimly-lit habitat in which a darker-coated squirrel could better conceal itself compared to its lighter counterpart. It is also suggested that non-melanistic squirrels have a concealment advantage over their melanistic counterparts in deciduous forests because deciduous trees shed their leaves on a seasonal basis, illuminating the forested area below it during the winter season. A study conducted in 1989 on melanistic fox squirrels found the non-melanistic coloration better for concealment while the squirrel was still, but a melanistic coloration provided better concealment for when it was in motion.
The frequency of black morph eastern gray squirrels is thought to have been once relatively common throughout the eastern gray squirrel range, although their frequency and population have dwindled since the 1700s. It has been suggested that their population declined due to extensive deforestation and the hunting of squirrels for their meat and pelts; with the newly changed environment providing non-melanistic gray-colored squirrels an advantage in concealment. However, the theory that the black morphs squirrels were more prevalent prior to the 1700s, and that deforestation led to their decline has been challenged by some researchers. One study found a high frequency of black eastern gray squirrels lived in rural southern Ontario, an area primarily made up of farmland.
Melanism in fox squirrels in the southeast portion of its natural range has also been associated with crypsis, as it inhabits forests that go through periodic burnings. It has been suggested that black squirrels would be harder to detect in forests already burned, due to the blackened substrate.
Thermoregulation
It has also been suggested that black morph squirrels have a considerably higher cold tolerance than gray squirrels given the color of their coat. Black-coated animals were found to have 18 percent lower heat loss in temperatures below −10 °C (14 °F), a 20 percent lower metabolic rate, and a non-shivering thermogenesis capacity that is higher than a gray morph. Additionally, researchers of the color morph have noted a strong negative correlation with the frequency of black squirrels and areas with high air temperature.
The black coat has been suggested as a selective advantage for squirrels inhabiting the northern ranges of the species, as it helps them inhabit colder regions. The apparent thermal advantage has contributed to the expansion of the eastern gray squirrel's range northward following the end of the last glacial period. Black morph eastern gray squirrels have been reported as far north as Sudbury, Ontario, past the traditional range of the eastern gray squirrels.
A study published by the European Journal of Ecology in 2019 on eastern fox squirrels found that the melanistic morphs of the species saw a noticeable increase in their surface temperature (fur and skin) in both sunny and cloudy weather; whereas the non-melanistic fox squirrels only saw their surface temperature increase when it was sunny with no cloud cover. Its ability to gain heat in sunny and cloudy conditions is believed to be the reason why melanistic squirrels are more active during winter mornings. However, the same study noted that there was no difference in metabolic heat production between the color morphs.
Reproduction
Among eastern squirrels, gray mating pairs cannot produce black offspring. Gray squirrels have two copies of a gray pigment gene and black squirrels have either one or two copies of a black pigment gene. If a black squirrel has two copies of the black gene it will be jet black. If it has one copy of a black gene and one gray gene it will be brown-black. Approximately nine percent of melanistic eastern gray squirrels are believed to be jet black. In areas with high concentrations of black squirrels, litters of mixed-color individuals are common.
Differences with non-melanistic squirrels
A study conducted in 1990 of black and gray morphs of the eastern gray squirrel concluded that there was no major difference in behavior between the morphs. The same study also found no difference between the morphs when reacting to either a human or canid predator. However, another study in 2010 also found that gray morphs of the eastern gray squirrel were more prone to initiate flight than black morphs after hearing a red-tailed hawk; although the fact that black morphs were less likely to initiate flight after hearing a red-tailed hawk may not be an effect of pigmentation, rather the environment they inhabit. Given the higher frequency of black morphs in an urban setting, it has been suggested that black morphs have a higher tolerance for human/urban stimuli. It has also been suggested that behavioral differences with regard to mating may exist between the urban and rural populations of eastern gray squirrels.
A 2019 study on fox squirrels found that there was no noticeable difference in metabolism between the different color morphs of that species. However, the same study on fox squirrels found that melanistic fox squirrels were more active than their non-melanistic counterparts during the winter and spring months, with melanistic fox squirrels found to be 30 percent more active during the mornings than their non-melanistic counterparts. Conversely the non-melanistic fox squirrels were more active during the autumn season. It has been suggested that the black squirrel's higher heat gain for its surface temperature is the reason why they are able to be active earlier in the day and remain active longer.
Distribution
Natural populations of black morph eastern gray and fox squirrels can be found in the natural ranges of both species in North America, although their frequency varies depending on the area. Black fur for both species of squirrels is rare and occurs at rates of less than one percent. It has been suggested that one in 10,000 eastern gray squirrels are a black morph.
It has been suggested that the frequency of the black color morph in the eastern gray squirrel populations has declined since the late 1700s, especially south of the Great Lakes. There is a higher frequency of the black morph in the northern portions of the eastern gray squirrel's range; which includes the southern portions of central Canada and northern United States. In particular, large populations of black squirrels are found within the Great Lakes Basin, with a notable increase in their frequency between the 41st parallel north and the 45th parallel north.
Black squirrels occur with the highest frequency in Ontario and Michigan, and are the predominant color morph found in those areas; with the black morph accounting for 66 percent of squirrels documented on iNaturalist in Ontario, and 56 percent in Michigan. Significant populations of black morphs are also present in the other provinces/states that surround the Great Lakes; with approximately 15 percent of the eastern grey squirrels in those regions reported to be melanistic. Black squirrel populations south of the Great Lakes remain largely localized, with the frequency of black squirrels varying from one region to another. Black squirrels were found to be more common in urban areas as opposed to rural areas and forests. Among exurban populations of eastern gray squirrels, the black morph only occurs in high frequencies in Ontario, and northern Michigan.
Conversely, black morphs of fox squirrels occur with the highest frequency in the southeastern portion of its natural range, the southeastern United States. Like the eastern gray squirrels, the frequency of black fox squirrels is dependent on the area, reaching a maximum frequency of 13 percent. Although they occur more frequently in the southeastern United States, large populations of black morph fox squirrels may be found in other areas of the species' natural range; including Council Bluffs, Iowa, around the Missouri River. Approximately half of the fox squirrels found in Council Bluffs are melanistic. Melanistic fox squirrels in Council Bluffs have since expanded across the Missouri River to other areas in the Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area; with melanistic fox squirrels now accounting for 4.6 to 7.6 percent of fox squirrels in Omaha.
Introduced populations
Reintroduction programs
Several populations of black morph squirrels were the result of reintroduction/re-population programs intended to reintroduce the species and/or the black morph to areas they once inhabited, but had been wiped out by human hunting and predators in previous centuries.
Black squirrels in Washington, D.C. originated from eighteen black morphs captured at Rondeau Provincial Park in Ontario and released in the parks around the National Mall in 1902 and in 1906 by Teddy Roosevelt. There remains a level of uncertainty as to why the black morphs were introduced into the National Mall; although representatives from the Smithsonian Museum suggest their introduction may have been part of a larger effort to revitalize the local eastern gray squirrel population whittled down by human hunting. By the 1960s, the black morphs had spread beyond the parks that surround the National Mall, although were largely contained by the Capital Beltway. In 2005, it was estimated that black morphs comprised between 5 and 25 percent of all eastern gray squirrels in that area.
The present population of black eastern gray squirrels in Battle Creek, Michigan was reportedly introduced in 1915 by John Harvey Kellogg, who wanted to repopulate the area with the species after their populations were devastated in the previous centuries by predators and human hunters. He reportedly received 400 eastern gray squirrels from Kent County, Michigan, including some black morphs, and released them into the community. Researchers north of Battle Creek, at the Kellogg Biological Station, later trapped some black morph eastern gray squirrels in 1958 and 1962, and released them on the East Lansing campus of Michigan State University at the behest of the university's president.
Black morphs were once present in Ohio, although the color morph was extirpated from the state by 1930. However, an initiative to reintroduce the black morphs into the squirrel population was undertaken in 1961 by Kent State University, based in Portage County. The university, in coordination from the Canadian and U.S. governments, released ten black squirrels from London, Ontario onto its campus grounds in an effort to reintroduce the black morphs into the area. By 1964, the Record-Courier reported the number of black squirrel increased to 150. Black morphs of the eastern gray squirrels have since expanded through northeastern Ohio.
Introduced/non-native populations
Several populations of black morph squirrels were introduced into the area by accident. Some of these black morph populations have been embraced by their communities, although others are viewed as an invasive species to the local ecosystem.
The introduction of black squirrels in the Quad Cities occurred in the 19th century. According to one story, recounted in the book The Palmers, they were first introduced on the Rock Island Arsenal by either the Palmer family or the base commander. According to the story, some of the black morphs later escaped the arsenal by jumping across ice floes on the Mississippi River when it was frozen, and populated the other areas on Rock Island.
Eastern gray squirrels, including their black morphs, were introduced into British Columbia during the early 1900s. The species was also later introduced into other areas of Canada to which it was not native, such as Calgary, Alberta. The majority of the eastern gray squirrels in Calgary originated as pets, or zoo animals that escaped captivity during the 1930s. As in Ontario, black eastern gray squirrels are now the predominant morph of the species found in Calgary.
The black morph population in Marysville, Kansas were supposedly released into the area by accident. Reportedly the black morphs were brought to Marysville during the 1920s as a part of an exhibit for a circus, but were accidentally released after a child opened the cage holding the black morphs. Attempts to replicate Marysville city branding success with the black squirrels was also attempted by residents of Hobbs, New Mexico; who reportedly took some black morphs from Marysville to populate Hobbs. However, they were unsuccessful in introducing the black morphs into Hobbs, with the local squirrel population reportedly killing the black squirrels that were released there.
The population of black squirrels in Massachusetts's Pioneer Valley originated from two shipments of Michigan black squirrels sent to Frank Stanley Beveridge, the founder of Stanley Park in Westfield. Beveridge reportedly released the black squirrels into the park he established during the late 1940s. The population of black squirrels has since spread throughout the Pioneer Valley, with large populations existing in Amherst and Westfield. During this same period, black squirrels from Canada were also released at parks in Princeton, New Jersey.
Black morphs of eastern gray squirrels are also present in the United Kingdom. The black squirrel population in the UK originates from black morphs brought over from North America, as opposed to a mutation that occurred with the existing population of non-melanistic eastern gray squirrels. However, how the species was introduced into the country's ecosystem remains undetermined. Some suggest the black morph population originated from squirrels released into the wild in the 19th century, while others assert the population originated from black morphs in zoos that escaped captivity. The first black squirrel to be recorded in the wild in the United Kingdom was in 1912, in Woburn, Bedfordshire. By 2009, the black morph accounted for nearly half of all squirrels in Cambridgeshire and in other areas of England, including Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. There are an estimated 25,000 black morphs squirrels in the East of England in 2009. However, as eastern gray squirrels (both non-melanistic and black morphs) threaten the local Eurasian red squirrel population, local authorities have begun to regulate and control the spread of the species in parts of England.
In culture
Black squirrels have been adopted by several cities and post-secondary institutions in the United States for the purposes of public relations branding, often making the black morphs a mascot.
The city of Marysville, Kansas, adopted the black morph squirrels as an official mascot of the city in 1972, and the "Black Squirrel Song" becoming the town's official anthem in 1987. The same legislation that made it an official mascot provided the "mascots" the freedom to trespass on all city property, "immunity" from all traffic regulations, and the "first pick of all black walnuts growing within the city". Marysville is one of several communities in the United States that have enacted specific legislation to protect the black morph populations, given their low frequency south of the Great Lakes. Other cities that provide legal protection for black squirrels include Council Bluffs, Iowa; which enacted an ordinance that discourages attempts to threaten them.
Several universities also use a black squirrel as an "unofficial" mascot or symbol for their institutions for public relations purposes. Post-secondary institutions typically adopt the black squirrel as an informal mascot for branding purposes, in an effort to further their recognition and visibility and to present an image of a "fun college campus". The black squirrel has been used as an "unofficial" mascot of Kent State University, and the county it resides in since the late 20th century. Kent State University hosts an annual "Black Squirrel Festival," a festival that commemorates the introduction of the species on the university campus in 1961. In 2009, a statue of a black squirrel was unveiled on the campus. The Kent State University Press named a trade imprint Black Squirrel Books, after the black morph eastern gray squirrels that inhabit its campus. Other post-secondary that have also attracted print and digital publicity for its relationship with black squirrels includes Augustana College, the College of Wooster, and Sarah Lawrence College. The athletics program for Haverford College, the Haverford Fords, also adopted the black squirrel as an official mascot.
Literature
Black squirrels are major characters in British author Robin Jarvis's fantasy trilogies The Deptford Mice and The Deptford Histories, which feature anthropomorphic animals. They are portrayed as being of royal blood and are regarded as the wisest and noblest type of squirrel.
In Celtic folklore, black squirrels were associated with magic, occult knowledge, and the otherworld.
Black squirrels inhabit the forest of Mirkwood in the legendarium of J. R. R. Tolkien
An interesting looking wild turkey I have been seeing for a couple of months. After lots of research I am comfortable saying this bird suffers from Leucism "a condition in which there is partial loss of pigmentation in an animal resulting in white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales or cuticle, but not the eyes. Unlike albinism, it is caused by a reduction in multiple types of pigment, not just melanin."
I thought the brown dorsal stripe was gut contents when I was taking the photos and it may be partly, but you can also see pigment and the setae are brown too above it so... I've been finding these over the last week, at home and in the local woods, all with the same stripe. Edit- the brown really is just gut contents- From Frans.... "The brown stripe indeed is gut contents, not skin pigmentation. Juveniles are always feeding. The brown setae are an artefact, a side-effect of the illumination/reflection/refraction."
Photo credit:
wifluvelle.blogspot.com/2010/09/cellnique-part-1-toner.html
What I like: The spray cap. Most toner you need to pour it out. With this, I just spray it straight on my clean face (with eyes close of course ^_*). It smell of herbal because of the 14 plant extract ingredients. No, I did not have any allergic reaction to it. Does my moisturiser sink into my face after toning? Yes, indeed. Basically, that is what I want most with my toner...
Nala is part of Inamorata Vitiligo collection that celebrates the beauty of this unique type of pigmentation. The collection consists of three dolls in Chocolate resin: Nyah (Nnaji sculpt), Nala (Nnaji sculpt) and Imani (Nubia sculpt).
Nala has brown eyes, nude lips and no makeup fresh faced faceup with natural lashes of half white half black echoing the pattern of her special pigmentation. The lingerie is from Inamorata Cherub LE30 from 2013.
The jewellery and dolls are available for sale in my shop at emiliacouture.com/shop/
Built in 1919-1920, this Chicago School and Sullivanesque-style building was designed by Louis Sullivan for the Farmers and Merchants Union Bank in Columbus, Wisconsin as one of his late-career “jewel box” bank buildings that are largely located in smaller communities throughout the midwest. The building was the last “jewel box bank” designed by Sullivan, and the second-to-last commission of his career, and was intended to communicate the bank as a modern and progressive institution, rather than employing the stodgier and more traditional Classical design found on most other banks of the era. The bank was commissioned by the president of the bank, J. Russell Wheeler, whose wife, Anna May Wheeler, pushed him to commission Sullivan to design a new home for the bank. In addition to Louis Sullivan, the building’s stained glass windows, were designed by architectural decorator Louis J. Millet, and the terra cotta by clay modeler Kristian Schneider, whom developed moulds for the building’s terra cotta, metal, and plaster details. The two artisans worked alongside Sullivan on several other bank projects. The building was heavily documented in Sullivan’s 1924 “A System of Architectural Ornament”, published shortly before he died.
The building is clad in red tapestry brick, which features blue and green mixed with the red clay mixture in some bricks, creating variation in color and texture across the facade. The brick creates a backdrop to some of the best terra cotta on any of Sullivan’s projects. The terra cotta features many of the floral and geometric motifs found on Sullivan’s other works, and is arranged similarly to other Sullivan banks that utilized brick cladding. The building features two principal facades, with a narrower facade along James Street, and a broader facade facing Dickason Boulevard. The James Street facade features two openings close to ground level, with the eastern bay housing a large plate glass window, and the western bay housing a doorway flanked by skylights, both of which are recessed under a large terra cotta architrave and flanked by square pilasters with decorative Sullivanesque ornament panels at the capitals. The architrave above the doorway and window is divided into three segments by vertical terra cotta elements that feature floral motifs and, like many Sullivan buildings, appear like plants with roots, branches, and crowns. The outer panels of the architrave feature circular cartouches with hexagonal trim, leaves, and geometric elements, with circular central medallions featuring the years 1861, when the bank was founded, and 1919, when the bank was completed. The central panel is clad in marble with the words “Farmers & Merchants Union Bank” and “Louis Sullivan, Architect” engraved into the stone with yellow pigmentation, contrasting against the white and green marble background. Atop the two vertical elements on either side of the central panel are griffin sculptures holding shields, a common element on many of Sullivan’s “Jewel Box Banks,” while the base of the outer vertical elements features the initials of the bank at the base. Above the architrave is an arched bay that houses a stained glass window, trimmed with decorative terra cotta at the inner and outer rings of the arch, with the bay becoming more recessed after each concentric arch, much like the entrances to medieval Romanesque churches. Besides a band of belt coursing that runs on either side of the architrave and wraps the corner to a tapered buttress on the Dickason Boulevard facade, the only other adornment is an eagle sculpture on a vertical trim element at the center of the parapet, which terminates many brick courses above the arched opening below, and another band of terra cotta trim along the top of the parapet, which forms a cap on the parapet around the perimeter of the building’s low-slope roof. On the Dickason Boulevard facade, the building features five recessed clerestory arched bays housing stained glass windows, flanked by tapered buttresses. Surrounding the arched tops of the windows are decorative trim panels with floral motifs, which begin just below the base of the arches, and extend up above the top of the arches, terminating in a band of belt coursing. Atop the buttresses at either end are trim elements featuring large spheres atop rectilinear legs with floral motifs below, undulating in and out with the brick below. Additionally, a band of belt coursing, which wraps the corner of Dickson Boulevard and James Street, runs beneath the windows, only interrupted by the buttresses. Toward the back, on the building’s original rear wing, there are three windows at eye level in the original building, with bands of belt coursing below and at the top of the parapet. The rear window is a recessed bay window flanked by two pilasters with sullivanesque terra cotta panels, while the smaller windows are flanked by sullivanesque relief panels. The rear wing features a roof at multiple heights, and was extended in 1961 with a matching addition by Law, Potter and Nystrom, since removed. The rear of the taller portion of the building features a simple recessed bay with an arched window, and a similar eagle sculpture and vertical trim piece as on the front facade.
Inside, the front wing of the building features a tall banking hall with brick cladding on the walls up to the level of the windows, where it terminates at a wooden sill. The space is split down the middle by a row of brick piers and low walls framing the teller cages, which terminate at the sill line of the windows, dividing the space while still allowing it to read as a single continuous lofty space. The brick forms piers at the teller’s cages, pilasters separating desks on the exterior wall, and low brick walls with marble caps. The upper portion of the walls and the coffered ceiling in this space is finished with white plaster, which gives the space a very vertical and airy feeling, as do the cream-colored terrazzo floors, which feature black edges at the base of the walls, tying the space together. The space features a terra cotta water fountain, or bubbler, also designed by sullivan, which features intricate ornament by Schneider. The space also features two mezzanine balconies with metal railings that run below the arched windows at the front and rear of the space, allowing managers to observe the activities in the lobby and teller area below from the rear balcony, while the front balcony exists solely to balance the space and keep it symmetrical. An office for private conferences with customers was originally located near the front of the space, along with a manager’s office, allowing convenience for customers seeking a meeting with the bank management. The teller’s side of the space also housed the bank’s two vaults and several other private offices. The bank originally featured a large meeting room in the one-story rear wing, behind the vaults, with a women’s waiting room sitting along the Dickason Boulevard side of the rear wing, featuring a bay window and a restroom. The building’s interior has changed in function somewhat due to the growth of the bank, changes in bank operations, and expansion of the building with new additions to house offices and a drive-through in the rear.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976, and is a contributing structure in the Columbus Downtown Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. The building saw an addition in 2006, clad in buff brick, which replicated a historic building that formerly stood to the east, and wraps the building to the rear, with a two-story section behind a one-story annex that connects the one-story rear wing of the bank to the new building. This wing replaced older additions made in 1961, which matched the one-story rear wing of the historic building, and 1980, which was modern in appearance and slightly recessed along James Street to give precedence to the historic building. The building still functions as the main office branch of the Farmers and Merchants Union Bank, which has grown substantially. The building has been long considered to be among the best of Sullivan’s “Jewel Box Banks,” and has been kept in excellent condition by the bank’s careful and caring generational stewardship.
Jolanta Punturiero is a well-known Miami permanent makeup artist and micro pigmentation specialist. Her work is famous for its euro quality and a keen aesthetic touch.
This does not come as a surprise as Jolanta has a background in Fine Arts and majored in painting. She developed her exquisite skills in Europe, specializing in enhancement of the facial features of eyebrows, eyes and lips.
A mother white lion crouching on a tree at the now closed MGM Grand lion enclosure in Las Vegas, Nevada
Thank you very much for viewing my work, and thank you VERY MUCH for over 1.65 MILLION views!!Incredible! And I’m very appreciative of all the support I receive.
Comments on my images and favoriting is always appreciated! I’m glad so many people enjoy my work. :-)
Please Like me on FaceBook
Please don’t forget to check out my other websites, which can be accessed through: MichaelSchmidtPhotography
If you'd like to contact me about my photography, please email me here
Thanks again!
Vigini Tightening & Whitening Gel is an Anti ageing formula helps intimate regain natural tone and elasticity. Natural actives increase estrogen level and form new tissues. Reduce pigmentation, lighten the color of Intimate area & bikini lines. Helps eliminate foul smell, prevents from infection and keeps Intimate area clean & healthy. Locks natural wetness of intimate area and improves elasticity. Reduces dryness, provides instant tightness you feel desirable sensuous & confident. Natural Active Intimate Whitening Gel : Witch Hazel, Curcuma Comosa, Oak Gall extract, Amla Extract,Catechu Extract, Collagen, Aloe Vera Extract and V-tightening Actives.
©All photographs on this site are copyright: ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams) 2011 – 2021 & GETTY IMAGES ®
No license is given nor granted in respect of the use of any copyrighted material on this site other than with the express written agreement of ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams). No image may be used as source material for paintings, drawings, sculptures, or any other art form without permission and/or compensation to ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams)
.
.
I would like to say a huge and heartfelt 'THANK YOU' to GETTY IMAGES, and the 48.107+ Million visitors to my FLICKR site.
***** Selected for sale in the GETTY IMAGES COLLECTION on Sunday 12th May 2024
CREATIVE RF gty.im/2152549727 MOMENT ROYALTY FREE COLLECTION**
This photograph became my 6,557th frame to be selected for sale in the Getty Images collection and I am very grateful to them for this wonderful opportunity.
©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams)
.
.
Photograph taken at an altitude of Two hundred and fortry one metres at 15.11pm on Tuesday May 7th 2014 off South Street in Rhayader, Mid-Wales from the Low level professional photography hide at Gigrin Farm feeding station.
This is a rare Leucistic Red Kite (Milvus Milvus), one of only ten currently known in the world. Leucism is caused by a partial loss of pigmentation, resulting in white feathers on a bird.
The Red Kite (Milvus Milvus) is a medium sized bird of prey (Raptor) in the Accipitridae family, and was saved from national extinction by a long running protection programme. It has now been successfully re-introduced into England and Scotland, and Wales, and they are listed under schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside act, currently with a green status. They can reach 66cms in length with up to a 195cms wingspan, and there around 4,600 breeding pairs in the UK in 2024.
Nikon D850 Single-lens reflex digital camera F Mount with FX CMOS 35.9mm x 23.9mm Image sensor 46.89 Million total pixels Hand held Focal length: 600mm Shutter speed: 1/2000s (Mechanical shutter) Aperture f/9.0 Auto iso360 Tamron Vibration Control set to position 1 Image area Full Frame FX (36 x 24) NEF RAW L 45.4Million pixels (8256 x 5504) 14 Bit uncompressed Focus mode: AF-C Priority Selection: Release Nikon Back button focusing enabled AF-Focus area: 3D Tracking watch area: Normal 55 Tracking points Exposure mode: Manual mode Metering mode: Centre weighted metering Active D-Lighting: Normal White balance on: Natural light auto, 0, 0 Colour space: Adobe RGB Picture control: (SD) Standard (Sharpening +3.00/Clarity +1.00)
Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2. Nikon GP-1 GPS module. Hoodman HEYENRG round eyepiece oversized eyecup. Black Rapid Curve Breathe strap. My Memory 128GB Class 10 SDXC 80MB/s card. Lowepro Flipside 400 AW camera bag. Nikon EN-EL15a battery.
LATITUDE: N 52d 17m 49.60s
LONGITUDE: W 3d 29m 42.10s
ALTITUDE: 241.0m
RAW (TIFF) FILE: 130.00MB NEF: 92.0MB
PROCESSED (JPeg) FILE: 30.90MB
PROCESSING POWER:
Nikon D850 Firmware versions C 1.21 (8/12/2022) LD Distortion Data 2.018 (16/01/20) LF 1.00 Nikon Codec Full version 1.31.2 (09/11/2021)
HP 110-352na Desktop PC with Windows 10 Home edition AMD Quad-Core A6-5200 APU 64Bit processor. Radeon HD8400 graphics. 8 GB DDR3 Memory with 1TB Data storage. 64-bit Windows 10. My Passport USB 3.0 2TB portable desktop hard drive. Nikon NX STUDIO 64bit Version 1.2.2 (08/12/2022). Nikon Capture NX-D 64bit Version 1.6.2 (18/02/2020). Nikon Picture Control Utility 2 (Version 2.4.5 (18/02/2020). Nikon Transfer 2 Version 2.16.0 (08/12/2022). Adobe photoshop Elements 8 Version 8.0 64bit.
Beautiful Freckles young woman close up portrait. Attractive model with beautiful blue eyes and ginger curly hair
www.drdarm.com "Dr. Jerry Darm" "Aesthetic Medicine Portland OR" "BBB rated A+" Laserlift Botox Dysport Juvederm Restylane "Acne treatments" ANSR "Rosacea treatments" "facial veins treatments" "mole removal" "skin tags removal" "skin pigmentation treatments" "skin lesion treatments" "laser tattoo removal" "dark spots treatments" "sun damage treatments" "laser hair removal" revlite "laser skin" "laser skin treatments" lipolift velashape mesoderm "exilis therapy" "laser lipolysis" "laser liposuction" "liposuction doctor portland" "oregon liposuction doctor" "vein therapy" sclerotherapy "spider veins treatments" "medical weight management" "medical weight loss" "dr. darm weight loss programs" "facial plastic surgeries" "plastic surgeon portland" "face lifts" "nose lifts" "brow lifts" "ear surgery" "double neck surgery" microdermabrasion n-lite, "Dr. Jerry Darm" "Jerry Darm MD"
This salamander has a very unique pigmentation, most eastern hellbenders are chocolate brown in color. Photo by Ashley Spratt/USFWS.
I was taken by a friend to visit the small colony of hyper-chromatic CSOs at the weekend. But in actual fact, most of the other spikes were almost as mad, with bold wonderful dots and swirls on the lips.
Here is a selection:
-------------------------------------------------
So, after the best part of five weeks doing little else than take photographs, I decided to spend Saturday painting the shed.
No I didn't, I went out orchiding.
Or did once we went to Tesco for the remainder of the shopping.
Another glorious warm day, that would be very good for photography,I thought.
Home for coffee and fruit for breakfast, before I packed my camera and headed to the Medway towns to meet up with two other people from my orchid group to hunt down some super rare orchids.
But then, they always are.
I drove up the A2/M2 to Chatham, turned off, and in a quiet residential area, I found Ian parked, so I pulled up behind him. Graham soon arrived too, and so we got out and set out down a narrow alleyway between the houses, into woodland behind.
Orchids are variable. Even the most common ones can produce spikes that are as rare as the rarest orchid species. And as all species can produce spikes with little or no pigmentation, they can also produce spikes with hyper-pigmentation.
Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. rhodochila, or a hyper-coloured Common Spotted Orchid. And in a colony where most spikes had strongly marked lips, there were four that really stood out, as the rings and dots had been covered by pigmantation, and the lips were a solid block of colour. I mean, I had seen shots of these, but to see them in person was something else.
We all took lots of shots, and then Graham said, I know of a colony of Lesser Butterfly orchids, would you like to see them?
We would.
The Lesser Butterfly at Barham have died out, and the ones at Stockbury seem to have had their flowers deliberately picked off this year, so another colony would be great to know about.
We drove in convoy for half an hour, met up in a pub car park, then drove in Graham's car to the end of a quiet, little used lane. A six-foot-sixer, Tony! And we set out on foot, a mile up the lane to a gate, where climbed over.
A car went by.
"What are you doing?"
We explained about the LBO and how rare they were and we knew they were in the wood. The gamekeeper knew about them too, and was happy to let us go, and if someone stopped us again, we could mention his name to say we had his blessing. We also said we would tell no one about the site.
We climbed over a fence into the wood, and shortly afterwards we saw the first of about twenty spikes, one measuring in at 68cm tall, and one that had a clear green colour to it.
We took shots of them all, though the humidity was getting to me, fogging the viewfinder and by glasses. Sometimes at the same time.
We walked back to the car, then droove back to the pub, so that we could go our separate ways. My plan was to head back to Dover, to call in at the council offices to see if the unusually marked Bee Orchid was showing.
It was, and had only just opened as the pollina had only just dropped and had not been visited by an insect yet.
I got shots, one of which came out rather well, even if i say so myself.
Then back home for a drink, then a bacon butty and a brew.
Phew, it was a scorcher.
I reviewed shots through the afternoon before we had Caprese again with the leftover bread from the day before.
Life was good.
We listened to Craig in the evening before heading up to bed at half eight.
Phew.
-----------------------------------------------
The Common Spotted-orchid is one of the few species that are still thriving in Britain despite the ongoing environmental damage and habitat desctruction that has caused so many other orchids to decline. Its secret is an adaptability that enables it to colonise new areas. Few of us can have failed to spot the vast numbers of Dactylorhiza fuchsii on urban roadside verges and roundabouts - this orchid is living among us. It lives up to its common name on both counts: this orchid is indeed common, and its leaves are profusely marked with dark spots and blotches. Although best known from alkaline habitats such as fens, dune slacks, old quarries and lime pits, the Common Spotted-orchid is also tolerant of mildly acidic substrates and so can sometimes be found on heathland among heather. In Britain and Ireland this orchid flowers from mid May to the end of July. On mainland Europe the range of Common Spotted-orchid extends from Scandinavia in the north through central Europe and southwards to the Mediterranean.
Taxonomy & Hybrids
Pollination is highly successful, and a number of insects - particularly beetles - are attracted to the flowers' nectar.
The specific name 'fuchsii' refers to the German botanist Leonard Fuchs.
There is one subspecies found in Britain: Dactylorhiza fuchsii subsp. hebridensis which is found in Scotland, the Outer Hebrides and western Ireland.
There are a number of varieties and hybrids. Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. albiflora has unmarked white flowers and is fairly widespread. Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. alpina has small, darker flowers and is found in Scotland and parts of northern England; it has also been reported from Wales. Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. cornubiensis is a smaller plant with a relatively large infloresence and larger flowers; it is found in Cornwall. Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. albiflora has unmarked white flowers and unspotted leaves; it is widespread but uncommon. Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. okellyii is somewhat contentious: it resembles Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. albiflora but the leaves can be either spotted or unspotted; this variety is thought to be confined to western Ireland, the Isle of Man and parts of Scotland. Dactylorhiza fuchsii var. rhodochila is a widespread but rare hyperchromatic variant with excessive pigmentation; the lips of its flowers are reddish purple with a paler border, and the leaves can have either heavily marked or completely purple leaves.
There are also several hybrids. Dactylorhiza x transiens is the hybrid with Heath Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza maculata. Dactylorhiza x kernerorum is the hybrid with Early Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata. Dactylorhiza x mixtum is a rare hybrid with the Frog Orchid Dactylorhiza viridis. Dactylorhiza x venusta is the hybrid with Northern Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza purpurella. Dactylorhiza x grandis is the hybrid with Southern Marsh-orchid and is widespread in southern Britain. Dactylorhiza x silvae-gabretae is the hybrid with Narrow-leaved Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides. Dactylorhiza x braunii is the hybrid with Irish Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza occidentalis and is recorded from County Clare.
There is also an intergeneric hybrid. X Dactylodenia st-quintinii is the hybrid with Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea and possibly with Britain's other two Fragrant Orchids.
www.hardyorchidsociety.org.uk/hos%201012/orchidphotos/dac...
Meet our new flock sire. Warik is a purebred Icelandic Sheep. His dad is Tigul by AI.
His dark markings are totally in line with black badgerface. The white comes from the spotting gene from his father. He has black markings on other places that correspond with the black badgerface colour placement. I love his face. The cool thing is his horns are coming in bi-coloured like Walker's (Jester) that is they are white where there is an absence of pigmentation in the skin next to the horn and black where the skin is pigmented. Neat huh?
He gives the nicest lamb snuggles. Who needs therapy when you can hold a lambie?
Best Viewed Large
Now I know that this is not everyones cup of tea and you would be right.
This little chap had ventured out onto the path after a heavy rainstorm, the texture in his back was what caught my eye.
This was at Anglers Country Park near Wakefield in West Yorkshire UK.
The size of the slug varies from 10 to 15 cm among fully extended adults. Maturity is reached at about 2.5 cm.
The color of the black slug is generally black, but the colouration is very variable and this slug can even be white. The general trend is for a darker pigmentation the farther north the species is found. The classification of brown-coloured and rust-coloured "black" slugs is somewhat disputed; the brown variation is sometimes considered to be a separate species, Arion rufus (Red Slug). Young specimens of black slug do have a brown colour, which is later lost if and when the slug changes color to the mature state.
The slug covers itself in a thick foul-tasting mucus which serves as both protection against predators as well as a measure to keep moist. It is somewhat difficult to wash off.
Like other members of the Arionidae family, the black slug has a pneumostome (breathing hole) on the right side of its mantle through which it breathes. This mantle is the part which in snails secretes a shell, and in this species of slug the mantle contains a resilient protective structure of calcareous granules
Overview of rooms in the museum:
The museum, as it is now, is completely renewed. Old information about rooms and their numbers are still not updated, not even in Wikipedia. They mention twenty rooms, and their names, but there are 27 rooms, XXVII
Maybe wiki will update their page soon, as it is in October 2015, it is not updated.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraklion_Archaeological_Museum
~
This serial of photos offers an impression of details of the collection with Minoan Art, belonging to the Palace of Knossos. the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion has been completely renewed. Lots of amazing information can be read next to art objects.
It is not allowed to use flash when making photos. This, and the many visitors made it hardly possible to make really sharp photos in some seconds.
My camera is a rather cheap one and creates curved lines.
Some photos are not sharp, but I kept them anyway.
Altogether it has been a deeply impressing visit, moving, deeply moving because of the mystical, spiritual, mental and emotional depth of the Art.
The Minoans were utterly creative.
Their art is comparable with our modern art. Their use of colors makes the art characteristic: pastel colors (modest in pigmentation), terra colors, with blue, green and ochre.
Often I edited the photos in several ways. Or cropped them, to attract the attention for details.
Enjoy the collection of photos. If you want to read more about the Minoans: